Smoking areas on school grounds: are we encouraging teenagers to smoke?

In the United States, smoking has been identified as a major health hazard for the past 20 years. This study attempts to determine the relationship between the availability of a smoking area on school grounds, the incidence of smoking among teenagers, and the number of cigarettes smoked per day by teenagers. A questionnaire was administered to the target population and a matched control group at two suburban high schools, similar in size and socioeconomic status. One of the two schools provided a smoking area for students. The findings suggest a possible relationship between providing a smoking area for students and an increase in the number of teenage smokers. The findings also indicate a possible decrease in teenage, male smokers. Our findings should prompt health professionals, educators, and parents to ask, "Are we encouraging our teenagers to smoke?"